The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-07-29
SHANGHAI.
QUEER SCENES IN A LEADING
CHINESE PORT.
Its Foreign Population-The Wheel
barrow as Conveyance-Chine
Theatres and Serving
Tea and Watermelon Seeds.

letter from Shanghai to the Chicago
4r.eeHe says: The same treaty which
eeded Hong Kong to the English and
pald 20, 600 as indemnity for the de
struciion Of opium and ships threw open
As Trading ports Annoy, Foo Chow and
Shanghai-all along the eastern coast.
Other cities have been added since that
,ime, notably the great tea emporium
nan How, 600 miles inland, on the
langtze kiang. But the same hostility,
which has only yielded under extreme
pressure so as to allow any trading what
ever with foreign countries, has pre-
vented the establishment Of any railroad
IN China. A line was laid some wears
ago, but so unfavorable TO it were the
natives that they at last tore up the rails
anu utterly destroyed it. OF all the
treaty ports Shanghai is first, situated on
Tue Moosung River not far from where
1t emptieS into the gueat Yangtze Kiang.
1t IS largely foreign in its character, with
its English, French, and American
quarters. Like other cities of the East
where there are foreign residents, it has
splendid clubs. For club life is an alb
solute necessity. Absence Of theatres,
concerts, and other amusements and the
abundance of young men sent out from
Europe and America to fill mercantile
positions give them a supp~Tt that
renders it easy for them to erect luxurious
elub-houses and supply every comfort.
The local vehicle Of the City of Shan.
ghai IS the wheelbarrow. Not at all un.
like that which we find in our own coun.
try, though it has on top board az.
ranged somewhat like the centreboard Of
a boat. 1t serves as a rest for the backs
OF the two passengers who are generally
seen percbed upon the barrow, sitting
sideways and allowing their feet TO hang
toward the ground This instrument of
conveyance has, within the last few years
rather lost favor with foreigners, who
prefer a carriage or the more easy-riding
Jinriksha, but it probably will always
remain the especial delight of followers
of the sea. Not at all uncommon is it to
see two jolly tars, scarcely able to main.
tain their unsteady positions, perched
upon wheelbarrow, each waving a bot
tie Of liquor in one hand while trying to
hold onto the vehicle with the other. The
poor cody struggles along, and certainly
earns the very small amount of money
that he is allowed to charge Farther
north, in and around Pekin, it is custom
airy to rig sail onto the wheelbarrow and
use the wind as a motive power, the man
at the handles merely steadying and
steering the machine.
The Chinese are great theatre goers,
snd it would seem that with the good
patronage that their places of amuse-
ment command there would be some Gull
tivation of the dramatic art. Whatever
may be the Chinese estimate of their
players acting, to those who have seen
that of almost any European or Ameri-
can artist it is without any merit The
lines are delivered in a monotonous sing
ing style, and the stage settings are of so
primitive a character that they add little |
to the interest of the play. There is no
curtain. The stage is n platform, that !
stands at one end Of the theatre, and |
there are no flies and but little scenery.
The actors enter by door in the rear
and at one side Of the platform, and |
when they should depart betake them
selves off either by the same way in
which they entered or through CORE !
spending door at the other side. Not |
the spectators see some one /
who has been decapitated or disembow-
5ied gather himself together and walk
of in a most miraculous and unrealistic !
manner. There are no women upon the
stage, but the makeup Of the men who
lake the feminine characters Is so good |
hat they can hardly be dis
tinguished from the Chinese bellies
upon the floor of the house.
Talking is INDUCED in BIZ all, and
here is at times the greatest inattention.
The main floor is filled with little tables,
lround which the playgoers sit and drink,
md smoke, and chat, and watch, and
listen. The stage not only is not fur
lished with those fixings which 90 so far
o make drama success, but does not
eem TO be reserved exclusively for the
performance. Around the sides are those
who have no parts, and, one would think,
10 business there. Often the curtain
cross the door Of entrance or Of exit is
pushed aside, and instead of the actor
ONE child is seen, who comes toddling
n and perhaps right across the stage.
Tea boys or girls circulate through the
'ody of the house or across the stage
'ouring hot water into the little cups, in
he bottoms Of which are few tea leaves.
seeds seem favorite accom-
of the national beverage. for
title plates full Of them are on every ia
lie. The Chinese MUNICH these with the
-reatest satisfaction. When some actor
as finished particularly long harangue
e quietly turns around and drains one of
he cups, which supernumery standing
Y hands him. There is frequently, in
roductory to the regular performance,
juggling or tumbling, The plays them
elves are said to be, as a rule, quite i'm
loral and the language very low. The
ressings are very rich, and the beauti-
ully cOlored and embroidered silks and
ltins, in which the better classes of the
'hinese clothe themselves, show to great
dvantage on the stage.